Hee sayth, "seest thou yond water, Ellen,
That flows from banke to brimme?"
"I trust to God, O Childe Waters,
You never will see me swimme."60
But when shee came to the water side,
She sayled to the chinne:
"Now the Lord of heaven be my speede,
For I must learne to swimme."
The salt waters bare up her clothes,65
Our Ladye bare up her chinne;
Childe Waters was a woe man, good Lord,
To see faire Ellen swimme!
And when shee over the water was,
Shee then came to his knee:70
Hee sayd, "Come hither, thou fayre Ellen,
Loe yonder what I see.
"Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?
Of redd gold shines the yate:
Of twenty foure faire ladyes there,75
The fairest is my mate.
"Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?
Of redd golde shines the towre:
There are twenty four fayre ladyes there,
The fayrest is my paramoure."80
"I see the hall now, Childe Waters,
Of redd golde shines the yate:
God give you good now of yourselfe,
And of your worldlye mate.
"I see the hall now, Childe Waters,85
Of redd golde shines the towre:
God give you good now of yourselfe,
And of your paramoure."
There twenty four fayre ladyes were
A playing at the ball,90
And Ellen, the fayrest ladye there,
Must bring his steed to the stall.